1Now concerning things sacrificed to idols, we know
that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant, but love
edifies. 2If anyone supposes that he knows anything, he
has not yet known as he ought to know; 3but if anyone
loves God, he is known by Him.

4Therefore concerning the eating of things sacrificed
to idols, we know that there is no such thing as an idol in the
world, and that there is no God but one. 5For even if
there are so-called gods whether in heaven or on earth, as indeed
there are many gods and many lords, 6yet for us there is
but one God, the Father, from whom are all things and we
exist for Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, by whom are all
things, and we exist through Him.

7However not all men have this knowledge; but some,
being accustomed to the idol until now, eat food as if it
were sacrificed to an idol; and their conscience being weak is
defiled. 8But food will not commend us to God; we are
neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.
9But take care that this liberty of yours does not
somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if
someone sees you, who have knowledge, dining in an idol's temple,
will not his conscience, if he is weak, be strengthened to eat
things sacrificed to idols? 11For through your knowledge
he who is weak is ruined, the brother for whose sake Christ died.
12And so, by sinning against the brethren and wounding
their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore,
if food causes my brother to stumble, I will never eat meat again,
so that I will not cause my brother to stumble.

The Holy Bible, New American
Standard Version (c)1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1977,
1995 by the Lockman
Foundation, La Habra, CA. All rights reserved. Words
identified as being spoken by Jesus are in red.www.BibleABC.net